World Cup 2010 FANS!

Spain playmaker Andres Iniesta said his side plan to repeat their Euro 2008 success against Germany, after they set up a mouth watering semi-final with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.

Looking forward: Spain's Andres Iniesta says his side are desperate to reach the World Cup final (Photo: Getty Images)

David Villa scored the only goal of the game to move clear at the top of the World Cup goalscoring charts with his fifth strike in South Africa.

But it was his new Barcelona team-mate Iniesta who won the fans’ man-of-the-match award, after his run through the South Americans’ defence created the winner.

And now he can’t wait to renew rivalries with Germany, whom Spain beat 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna two years ago.

“We’ll be playing Germany again but I don’t think what happened two years ago will have any bearing on the game,” he said of Wednesday’s semi-final in Durban.

“Germany have had a brilliant World Cup so far and regardless of their excellent results they’re also playing very well.

“It must be a tremendous motivation for them but we too are at the top of our game.

“We’re keen to progress further, it will be a match between two teams that like to keep ball and I think it will be a great match.”

Spain were far from their best against a well-organised and disciplined Paraguay who worked tirelessly to close down the spaces and prevent the European champions from finding their stride and executing their fluid passing game.

Iniesta said credit should go to the South Americans for Spain’s inability to perform to their potential.

“We had all sorts of problems in this match, we knew it would be very tough because Paraguay have been playing well throughout the entire World Cup,” he added.

“They made life difficult for all their opponents and this match was decided with one quick move.

“We have to be delighted and proud and all other positive adjectives in the dictionary, to be amongst the four best teams in the world is something really great.”

As for his own display, Iniesta gave credit to the team’s collectivity.

“The fact that I’ve been voted man-of-the-match makes me very happy but without my teammates I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“If Villa was here he would say that without his temmates he wouldn’t score any goals.

“The strength of this team is that we fight for each other and that’s what’s helped us gain success.

“I feel very good, I’m playing 90 minutes in each match and the team is doing very well.

“We’re in the semis now and we should all feel delighted. Now we start to focus on the match with Germany.

“We’ve been following them throughout the World Cup, they’ve had a spectacular tournament and they’re going to be on top form.”